Ilorin Doctors Strike Over Unpaid Salaries and Training Funds

On a day that should have been dedicated to saving lives, the Association of Resident Doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH) joined their colleagues nationwide in a five-day warning strike. This isn’t just a fleeting protest; it’s a profound statement on the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and a desperate plea to halt a “medical brain drain” that threatens to leave the nation with a critical shortage of skilled professionals.

For months, doctors across the country have been operating under a cloud of uncertainty, a situation that came to a head on Friday. According to Dr. Mariam Shiru, the President of ARD-UITH, the strike is the culmination of a frustrating and seemingly endless cycle of negotiations with the Federal Government. While government officials have engaged in meetings and formed committees to address the doctors’ grievances, the reality on the ground has remained largely unchanged. This gap between promises and action is the root of the doctors’ palpable frustration.

The core of the dispute revolves around two key issues that strike at the very heart of a doctor’s ability to work and train effectively. First, there are the outstanding seven months of salary arrears. While the government has made some partial payments, the disbursements have been inconsistent and often incomplete, leaving many doctors struggling to meet their basic financial obligations. This financial instability, Dr. Shiru noted, is not about new allowances but “long-standing entitlements” that have been unjustly delayed. The second major point of contention is the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF). This fund is a crucial lifeline for resident doctors, providing support for their specialized training and examinations. The government’s failure to disburse these funds to many who are entitled to them is seen as a direct breach of trust and a significant barrier to their professional development. The government has claimed the funds are available, yet the slow pace of implementation has eroded all faith in these assurances.

The consequences of this impasse extend far beyond the striking doctors. Resident doctors form the backbone of Nigeria’s tertiary healthcare system, providing the bulk of clinical services in teaching hospitals. When they down tools, the impact is immediate and severe, leaving patients stranded and putting a strain on the remaining staff. The human cost of this industrial action is immeasurable, affecting everything from routine appointments to life-saving surgeries. However, the doctors argue that this short-term pain is necessary to address a long-term problem. Their fight is for a sustainable healthcare system—one where doctors are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and where the conditions are conducive to retaining the talent that is so desperately needed.

The exodus of Nigerian doctors, often referred to as “brain drain,” is a well-documented phenomenon. Faced with poor working conditions, inadequate equipment, and delayed salaries, many of the country’s brightest medical graduates are choosing to seek opportunities abroad, particularly in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. This ongoing migration of talent is a direct threat to the nation’s public health infrastructure, as it leaves a shrinking pool of experienced professionals to care for a rapidly growing population. This five-day strike is, in essence, a final, urgent warning. It is a moment for the government to move beyond platitudes and take decisive action, not just to resolve the current dispute but to fundamentally reform a system that is pushing its most valuable assets to its breaking point. For the sake of both the doctors and the millions of Nigerians who depend on them, the government must act before a warning strike becomes a permanent exodus.